Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid similar to morphine, but far more powerful. It was developed to be used in anesthesia, pain management, and for breakthrough cancer pain. Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin, and 100 times more potent than morphine; making it an extremely dangerous drug when used without medical supervision and proper administration. Because of its intense strength, fentanyl is intended for use only to treat patients with severe or chronic pain. It comes in multiple forms including pills, tablets, lollipops (Actiq), patches and powder.